New Metro map to change the lives of 100K+ commuters

WASHINGTON – Arguably the most renowned regional symbol of transportation will change this summer. The Metro map gets a fresh look, with new rush hour service called “Rush+” highlighted, showing new service on the Yellow, Blue, Orange and Green line lines.

For the first time, riders will be able to catch a rush hour Yellow Line train at Springfield and ride it straight into the downtown core of the District. There will be more service on the Orange Line during rush hours, including some trains that will go to and from Largo Town Center.

The Silver Line also makes its first appearance on the map, and overly long station names will be simplified and cleaned up.

The new Rush+ service will improve service for nearly 110,000 customers, Metro says. Seventeen stations will get more frequent service with six additional trains every hour of rush hour.

Check out these additional details:

During peak periods, more than 46,000 Orange Line customers will benefit from six additional trains per hour — three in each direction — between Vienna and Largo Town Center. This will result in 18 percent more capacity on the line, or approximately 2,600 seats per hour.

For 33,500 Blue and Yellow line customers in Virginia, Rush+ will increase the share of Yellow Line trains, meaning more direct and faster access to downtown via the Yellow Line bridge. A smaller number (about 16,000) weekday peak-period customers who travel on Blue Line trains via Arlington Cemetery will experience a maximum of six-minutes additional waiting time for a train.

Stations north of downtown on the Green and Yellow lines will benefit from 18 additional trains during rush hour periods. Stations from Shaw-Howard to Greenbelt will benefit from six additional Yellow Line trains each peak hour — three in each direction — between Greenbelt and Franconia-Springfield. And for the first time, you will be able to travel from Greenbelt to Franconia-Springfield without transferring. More than 28,000 customers will benefit from the change.